Where to have a girls dinner in Surry Hills

Round up the troops because these lady-friendly restaurants in Surry Hills are perfect for your next girls dinner.

Here’s my favourite spots for a ladies dinner in Surry Hills:

Sash

Update August 2019: I’m devastated. Sash has bowed out of Sydney. Apparently Sydneysiders didn’t have much love for Japanese pizza. No idea why. 

I have so much love for this new Japanese fusion restaurant in Surry Hills, and the way it brings some much-needed Melbourne attitude to Sydney. Sash is sassy, fun and delicious, marrying Japanese flavours with foods of the world. The result is things like tempura zucchini bao, lobster and steak nori taco, and of course Sash’s famous Japanese pizzas – the blue cheese sashimi pizza will blow your brain.

With a bangin’ soundtrack, nine crazy cocktails and fun food to share, it’s the ultimate choice for a rowdy girls’ dinner. There’s also a $79 ‘trust me’ food and drinks option designed for partygoers, where you get a light tasting menu, welcome wine and cocktail. 

Sash | 80 Wentworth Street, Surry Hills, New South Wales
sashrestaurant.com.au/surryhills

Chin Chin

Walking into this auditorium-sized Thai eatery your senses get a workout. Chin Chin is loud, quirky and smells devine, much like the Melbourne original. If you’re after a dinner venue that sets the tone for a night of fun, while serving up some of the most delicious Thai food going around – this is it. If you’re after a place where you can have deep conversations, thrashing out life’s problems – this is not it.  

Made famous south of the border for its notoriously long wait times, the easiest way to get a table at Chin Chin Sydney is to make a booking. But this is only an option if you’ve got a girl gang of six or more. Otherwise get ready to do the dance! Fortunately, Poly is across the road and beckons with a glass of wine, as does Tio’s Cerveceria with a margarita. 

Chin Chin | 69 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills, New South Wales
chinchinrestaurant.com.au/sydney

The Winery

Well of course any place called The Winery has to be in contention for a girls dinner, especially when it has a ripper wine list (go figure), plenty of party-starter cocktails and a fairy light-lit garden. And while this Crown Street favourite is a fun place to enjoy and try different wines without judgement, the food isn’t forgotten either. But if you don’t want to waste valuable lady catch-up time deciding what to order, just say “bring me food”, and a whole bunch of mod-Australian share plates will appear like magic (well for $65pp).

The Winery | 285a Crown Street, Surry Hills, New South Wales
thewinerysurryhills.com.au

Bodega Tapas Bar

This one’s for the sophisticated sisters who want a quality feed and nice drop of vino, but don’t want to have to pretend to be Posh Spice or rob a bank to do so. Bodega Tapas Bar is both fun and yum. You and your girls will enjoy a sharing-style dinner of Latin American dishes, and a big, South American-heavy wine list. Completing the picture is colourful wall art, an open kitchen, tattooed staff and banging music.

Keep reading about Bodega Tapas Bar over here.

Bodega Tapas Bar | 216 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills, New South Wales
bodegatapas.com

Wyno

If your girl squad is deadly serious about wine, there’s really only one option in the 2010 postcode. It’s Wyno, the wine bar and wine shop tucked behind Porteno. Dinner at this small, moody bar comes in the form of snacks – things like calamari, olives, dumplings and cured meats – with a side of wine education. The wine list is the size of Carrie’s shoe closet and features lots of international drops. Plus, you get to try some hard-to-find boutique and natural wines too.

Wyno | 4/50 Holt Street, Surry Hills, New South Wales
porteno.com.au/portal/wyno-hours